Odd behavior. Chickens flopping down on their sides?

[mountainbunny]

The other day my chickens did some thing odd that I've never seen them do before. They ate all just over 1 year old hens. 2 BO 2 Barred rock and 1 mixed breed. All healthy. It was about 10am and not too hot out yet. and I was letting them roam and giving them a handful of blueberries. I noticed one of my BO's flopped over and was laying on her side right by the coop entrance. At first I thought maybe she was about to dust bathe even tho it wasn't one of their usual bathing spots. Then I thought maybe it was some odd behavior as a result of being stressed the day before because I had to bathe/soak her in warm water to clean up her dirty vent. THEN all the other hens started doing the same thing. Just laying their on their sides. I wondered if it was the berries even though they've been eating from this batch all week. I quit giving them berries and enticed them back in the coop with meal worms. Later they acted perfectly fine and are acting fine again this morning. It was just the oddest thing. Ideas? I'm sure they ate OK I am just a worry wart and curious.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Mine do that. They just flop over and sunbathe for a while.

 

[mountainbunny]

Ahhhh OK. Makes sense! Reminds me of when they were babies in the brooder and they would just flop over and go to sleep. 1st time they did it I thought they were dying! One year into chicken raising and still so much to learn!

 

[debid]

Yep, sunbathing. They'll raise the neck feathers and stretch a wing out. Just getting some vitamin D.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Mine do that. They just flop over and sunbathe for a while.

The first time a witnessed that I thought my hen was dead. Walked up to her and she jumped up.

 

[chickens really]

Mine all do the same....All they need is their Bikinis on and the would be Sunshine girls....

 

[andreanar]

This makes me laugh! I remember my babies in the brooder, the first time I had chicks. I walked in to check on them and started crying my eyes out thinking they were all dead, they were just flopped down all over the brooder floor. My crying scared them all and they jumped up all freaked out.

 

[mountainbunny]

They certainly are interesting little creatures. I've had a lot of fun observing their behaviors and learning from them even if they freak me out sometimes! I worry about my animals and hate seeing them sick or injured. Glad to know they were just relaxing and enjoying the sun.